3b. Alzheimer’s Disease
The word Alzheimer’s may be familiar to you. You may even know someone who is suffering from it. This might be because Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
In fact, 1 in 3 adults over the age of 85 have Alzheimer’s disease.
We do not know every cause of Alzheimer’s disease. What we do know from research is that two abnormal structures form in the brain of Alzheimer patients. These two structures are plaques and tangles.. Sounds complicated? Let’s break it down.
Plaques
- Plaques are found within the tissues between the brain’s nerve cells.
- These tissues contain unusual clumps of protein, bits of neurons and other cells.
Tangles
- Healthy Neurons contain a protein called tau. Tau helps support the cell’s structure and deliver substances for proper cell functioning.
- In Alzheimer’s disease, the tau protein begins to tangle and build up inside the cell.
- These tangles can prevent the neuron from functioning correctly; as a result, the nerve cells can lose communication and die.
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s can change as the disease progresses. Click or tap each tab to learn more.
- Loss of memory
- Small personality changes
- Lapse of judgment
- Decline of memory and language skills
- Difficulty performing daily activities
- Visual and spatial problems
- Confusion about time and/or place
- Loss of control over motor functions (swallowing, bladder control)
- Loss of ability to recognize family members or familiar faces
- Loss of ability to speak
- Significant change in emotions and behavior
Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease can also impact younger individuals. Use the flip cards below to learn more.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s usually affects people in their 40’s or 50’s
- Because health care providers do not usually look for Alzheimer’s disease in younger people, diagnosing can be a difficult process
- Someone experiencing memory problems should meet with a specialist
- The cause of most cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s is not known
- Some cases have been linked to several rare genes that can be passed down through family